Rayburn, Sam, Library and Museum
Why it's listed
Completed in 1957 on a 4.3-acre tract in Bonham, Texas, this Classical Revival building was created to hold the books, papers and political artifacts of Sam Rayburn, longtime Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and to give his constituents a place to read and visit. Designed by Dallas architect Roscoe DeWitt and built by Carpenter Brothers, it has a copper roof, Georgia marble walls bonded to a concrete and steel frame, and a front facade with four Ionic columns. Inside are an exact replica of Rayburn's Washington office, exhibit rooms and a reading room. Rayburn used the office to meet constituents from 1957 until his death in 1961. The library is recognized for its connection to him and as the finest Classical Revival public building in Fannin County. It remains in use as a library and museum, now affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin.
Significance in brief: It is associated with Sam Rayburn, longest-serving Speaker of the U.S. House, who used its replica office as his local office from 1957 until his death in 1961. It is also considered the most prominent and finest Classical Revival public building in Fannin County. Because it is under fifty years old, it also meets Criteria Consideration G.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 05000386, listed May 6, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 800 W. Sam Rayburn Dr., Bonham |
|---|---|
| County | Fannin County |
| Listed | May 6, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000386 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1957-1961 |
| Architect / builder | Roscoe DeWitt (architect); Carpenter Bros. (builders) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition with a high degree of integrity, and still functioning as a library and museum. |
| Acreage | 5.3 |
| Coordinates | 33.57828, -96.18774 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 05000386.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q43079697
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.